Cowboys Hold Off University of Southern at Shreveport, 82-76

WARNER ----Connors State overcame a poor defensive effort to fight off visiting University of Southern Shreveport 82-76 Saturday at Melvin Self Field House.

Cowboys improved to 12-1 while Shreveport falls to 3-6.

Connors returns to the court Tuesday at home against Region II opponent Arkansas Baptist. Tip-off is 7 p.m.

"I don't think we played as hard as we did against Tonkawa the other night and as a result defensively we gave up too many points," said Cowboys head coach Bill Muse.

"We just played sloppy and had too many turnovers, but we got through it. They (Cowboys) were more motivated for our conference game (Tonkawa) than this non-conference game."

Shreveport led 36-35 at the half and opened the second half with five quick points to capture a 41-36 advantage. Connors battled back to deadlock the game at 41-all at the17:21 mark.

It was the double figure scoring of Burke Putnam and Tyrees Sidberry who led the way with 19 points each. Isaiah Jones was a point back with 18, while Callen Haydon came off the bench with 11.

"We had four guys in double figures and if we continue to get that we will be fine," said Muse. "We just have to shore up some things defensively with effort."

The Cowboys stretched its lead to 10 points, the largest of the game by either team, for a 55-45 advantage at the 13:51 mark of the second half.

However, the Jaguars would not quit as they came back to within a single point of the 23^rd-ranked Cowboys 70-69 with 4:36 remaining.

That was the closest Shreveport would come to the Cowboys as Connors outscored Southern 12-7 in the final 4:30 of the game.

Muse said he was "extremely pleased" with the play of Putnam. "He was crafty and Sidberry did a good job for us and Jones is getting better, along with Haydon."

A poor Connors defensive effort by the Cowboys in the opening half resulted in a 36-35 Jaguars lead at the intermission.

The up-and-down game had three ties, with Connors holding a six-point lead three times, the last at the 4:47 mark, 30-24.

The Jaguars battled back to regain the lead 36-35 with 58 seconds left in the first half.

D'Angelo Smith led Shreveport's scoring with 21 and Quatogues Capers added another 15.

CONNORS STATE 82, SOUTHERN SHREVEPORT 76

Southern Shreveport 36 40--76

Connors State      35 47--82

Southern Shreveport (3-6)—Smith 21, Capers 15, Black 9, Wimbley 8, McDaniels 8, Curtwright 4, Jefferson 3, Remo 3, White 3, Vaughn 2.

Connors State (12-1, 2-0)—Putnam 19, Sidberry 19, I. Jones 18, Haydon 11, Landrum 6, Lowe 4, Graham 3, Riggs 2.